Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 17

How's the weather where you live? October started in like a lamb, with unusual temps in the mid 70s, cooling off at night to around mid fifties. But as we near October 31, I know it's going to get nasty. Most years the weather is beautiful right up until the Monday before trick-or-treating. Bummer for the kids who want to show off their costumes. 

Today I upcycled a wooden cat figurine. It was originally pink and cute, but 'tis the season so I first out on its black coat. By the time I finished using my white Posca marker, the cat became a hybrid sugar skull skeleton. I couldn't decide on cute or creepy, and I got what you see here! 

While photographing my project, I decided to make the background black & white. Now the cat looks like he's camouflaged into the background. LOL I've put him in my window. I almost put him in between the glass and screen facing in, but my dog was not very happy with that! So Mr. Bones is facing out and behind the blinds most of the day.

31 Days of All Hallow's Eve - Day 10 - Pumpkin Fever

 

Been busy today, mostly waiting for paint to dry! LOL Today's project is another piece of deck decor, thanks to the Dollar Store. Last year I had bought a handful of Styrofoam pumpkins and packed them away. 

So I pulled them out and painted four of them. At first I was going to adhere each to the posts on my front porch, but decided to create one large decoration for Halloween. 

After painting on a coat of white gesso, I gave each pumpkin its own spooky character. I gave the first pumpkin lowlights by painting the cracks in the pumpkin a darker color, then wiping the excess paint off. The I drew on eyes and a mouth.

The pumpkin sitting on top of him I kept white and drew on a ghost face. On top of her is my black cat and sitting on the cat is the witch. She had to be on the top because she wouldn't give u wearing her hat. I made her hair out of some cording I had bought on clearance and stuffed into my craft bin. 

In fact, I bought nothing this year for my Halloween crafting! I've been on a decluttering binge for months now, only replenishing my adhesives and paints. Anyway, I hot glued my pumpkins on top of each other and placed them in a wooden planter that has seen better days. I put a few bricks in the bottom of the planter to keep it from falling over. I finished my Halloween totem pole by stuffing some greenery around the top.

Even with all that glue, my pumpkins look like they're about to tumble. No worries, though, they're professionals...

Challenges I am Entering:

Mirtillamente Challenges - Anything Halloween

Morgans Art World - Anything Goes

Four Seasons Challenges - Anything FALL Goes

Meow's It Going?!

 Last time a attended thrift therapy, I picked up a lightweight, carved wooden cat. She was pretty beat up, but I saw her inner beauty so I paid the dollar and took her home with me. After several color changes, I ended up with a medium pink. I used cotton swabs dipped in various colors of paint to give it a general flowery coat. I recolored the eyes and tail as well. She now poses gracefully in my living room window. I used both acrylic paint as well as Posca paint markers.

Thrift therapy is what I call it when I have the urge to roam a thrift store. I may not have something particular in mind while shopping. I may not even buy anything. But it is perfect for destressing. I just need to remember that when I do find something to upcycle or paint, that I take a photo of the item BEFORE I change it! LOL

Exercise?!! Not Me

How is everybody dealing with Covid-19 and its demands on society? My daughter just got back from road trip, passing though states where NO ONE wore masks, inside nor out. She is isolating in the basement for another week before she shares her breathing with me. The basement is made up for her to be comfortable - TV, fridge, microwave, bathroom - but it gets lonely, for both of us. Can't wait until she "returns" to me.
Meanwhile, I've started creating cards again. It looks like the repercussions from this virus will continue for months. So I need to revamp my outlook and plan a couple more months ahead. I'll be sharing my goals and expectations with you in a later post, but for now I colored up an image I had already printed to make today's card.
It's one of those unusual fold, slanted cards. I actually created 2 different cards with the same paper that I cut on the diagonal. My image is a digi from Ike's Art called "Basket Case". I thought this kitty's expression worked perfectly with my sentiment. On the inside, another sentiment asks "Meow's it going?"

 It will go into my box saved for neighbors and friends, to keep their spirits up. Every other week I deliver handmade cards to a few neighbors, since we can't really socialize. In fact, it's time to pass out a few more...

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - ANything w/a Critter Goes

Classic Design - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - NOT Square!

Crafty Creations - ANything Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything w/an Animal Goes

Creative Moments - ANything Goes

Show Us Your Pussy Cats - Furrything Goes

I'm Showing My Pussy Cat

Of course,due to allergies,  my pussy cat is not real. He's blue and adorns the card above. I was inspired to create him from my childhood memories back when I was in high school. I would stop at my best friend's house on my way, and we would walk to school together.
Some days she wasn't quite ready so I would come in and stand close to the front door. Where this very tall wardrobe stood in the corner. Right within striking distance. Where their cat was waiting for me. Ready to pounce on my back. Swat at my hair. Every morning.Until we graduated (on fair weather days I would wait outside).
I made my card as Clean and Simple as I was able to. I have a problem with CAS cards. I'm like a little kid with a full bag of M&Ms.I don't know when to stop! LOL But my Ike's Art image, called Cat on Shelf, is printed directly on my card base (something I never do), as well as my sentiment.
The only bit of "extra" on my card is that I framed the "shelf" (or wardrobe) my cat is leaning over and the border of dots I penned.

Challenges I am Entering:

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes w/optional Critter

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - AG wa critter

Crafty Animals - AG w/a critter

Oddball Art Stamps -AG w/optional Sentimentally Deranged (the cat is seriously  deranged,right?)
Show Us Your Pussy Cats - Furrything Goes

Baby, It's Cold at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Welcome to a new challenge at Scribbles Designs! It's the middle of February, and if you live in the northern hemisphere, that means cold days and colder nights - Brrr! So Scribbles would like to see your creations, inspired by the winter weather.
I created this fun step card using several digi images from Scribbles Designs: Free Snow Sign, Bunny Bum, Cat and Snow Kisses. The edge of each "step" has been sprinkled by faux snow, something you can make by rubbing two Styrofoam balls together and gathering up the "flakes". Except for my background paper, Rolling Hills patterned paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' Snow Much Fun Paper Kit, the rest is from my stash.
What's your winter weather look like? Be inspired by looking out your window and link a project up to Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles store. See you there!!

Challenges I am Entering:

Creates & Makes - Winter Blues

Show Us Your Pussies - Kitty Love

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Crafty Gals Corner - Use your Favorite Things (I love my homemade snow)

Do-AL(L) Kreatives - Winter

It's Quirky Raining Cats & Dogs This Month

In the northern half of the globe, April is a month of warmer weather and rain showers. Well, the Quirky Challenges blog has put a quirky spin on the showers. This month's theme is "It's Raining Cats & Dogs," Show us a project with a cat or dog or both!
This month's sponsor is Crackerbox Palace. They offer a wide variety of wood-backed rubber stamps. I got to play with a stamp called Hang on Cat. As soon as I saw it, I knew it related to how I felt eery Monday. Although...now I have Mondays off, so this would be how I feel on Tuesdays. But I'm not sending a card to myself, so most people will relate to the "Monday attitude." LOL
While at my local thrift store, I snagged an almost full paper pad of cat/dog patterned paper from DCWV for 50 cents. So I popped a piece onto a stitched card face, hung my cat, and added my sentiment and some ribbon.
Now it's your turn-Don't forget to link up for your chance to win prizes!
Challenges I am Entering:
Show Us Your Pussies - Any-furry-thing Goes
My Time to Craft - People & Their Pets

It's Raining Quirky Cats & Dogs

Welcome back to another Quirky challenge! This month you are asked to create something with a  Cats & Dogs theme. Our sponsor is Crackerbox Palace Digital Stamps.

I got to play with an image called "Peeking Cat." I colored my kitty with Copics, then added her onto my card face. A simple ribbon border and jeweled flourishes decorate my card. I printed my sentiment in Adobe Photoshop using Butch font from the Hungry Jpeg.
Quirky challenges run monthly starting on the first Sunday of the month, so you have time to let those creative juices flow. Think muddy paws and kitten cuddles, wagging tails and purring greetings. Then link up your creations with us at Quirky Crafts challenge blog!
Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Alphabet challenges - C is for Cats

Brown Sugar challenges - Anything Goes